Fairy Tales and Cappuccinos (Everyday Love #1) - Taylor Rylan Page 0,36

just a few freckles.

I’d woken up early after sleeping soundly for the first time in months and was now at the store, shopping for food and supplies.

But did I really need them? We were supposed to be going on a date. A date that I really hoped ended with us in bed naked and then waking up together on Monday morning. But would he want that? Or was he one that left right after? And what were we even doing? Dating? Hooking up? I was thirty-four years old. I should already have this shit figured out only, sadly, I didn’t. My last serious relationship ended several years ago, and I’d only occasionally hooked up since.

I pulled out my phone and opened my messages, hoping that Ford was awake already. He should be. It was almost nine for shit’s sake.

Me: I think I need some advice. You awake?

Ford: Kinda. It was a late night. Let me get some coffee.

Damn. That was fine though. I could wait. I continued to stare at the boxes of condoms in front of me and went ahead and tossed a box of my usual brand in the cart. I added two bottles of my favorite lube and left the aisle. Even if Sawyer left tonight before things went further than just a kiss, that was fine. I’d be prepared for things if and when they progressed beyond kissing.

When. Not if. Because they would. I made my way over to the grocery section of the store and went down my list of things to get. I realized while I was shopping that I had made adjustments to my food choices. I had added things to the list that I knew Sawyer could eat. Things that wouldn’t upset his stomach. What did that mean?

My phone pinging had me pulling it out of my pocket, knowing that Ford had finally gotten his coffee.

Ford: Okay. What’s up? Do you want to call?

Me: No, I’m in the store.

Ford: Then call when you’re finished. That will give me a chance to wake up.

Me: Okay.

Absently, I thought about it and wondered what was going on with Ford. He was always an early riser. It was just before nine, and usually by now he would have been up for a couple of hours at least.

I finished shopping, and after I checked out and bagged my things, I loaded them in the back seat of the truck and drove back to Pleasant Grove. I didn’t need anything else in River Forge and planned on being back here later this evening with Sawyer anyway.

When I pulled in behind the bookstore, I saw Ford’s truck parked off to the side. So he’d come on over here instead of waiting for me to call. That was fine. He could help me unpack all of the groceries.

After parking in my garage, I climbed out and loaded up my arms with all of my bags. I’d gotten to be a pro at overloading my arms so I wouldn’t have to make more than one trip. Not that I couldn’t. It was just a pain in the ass to have to make multiple trips.

Once my arms were loaded, I pushed the button on the wall and closed the garage door and then went out the walk-through door, letting it close behind me. That was a Ford addition, and I loved it. He’d installed a heavy-duty door with a self-closing arm at the top. It was great because I didn’t have to worry about the door not getting shut. I just had to make sure I had my keys on me or I could easily get locked out.

Not an issue, though, since I knew they were in my coat pocket. I managed to maneuver enough to unlock the back door and then let myself in up to my place. Ford must have heard me coming up the stairs because he opened the door at the top and immediately reached for the bags in my left hand.

“Why didn’t you call me from downstairs? I would have come and helped.”

“I’m capable of carrying them up, but thanks.” I followed him and sighed a bit when I set the bags down on the counter beside the ones he’d taken from me. I might have gone a bit overboard but wasn’t quite sure what to plan for. Would Sawyer be interested in staying here for supper some night? What about joining me for lunch?

“Are you shopping for the rest of the month?” Ford asked. I was